Level tie-down

ABSTRACT

A support for a pulley or plate is vertically adjustable so that when a chain is anchored at one end to a floor and led over the pulley or plate to a vehicle, the angle of the lead of the chain can be adjustably predetermined.

United States Patent 1191 Buske Feb. 5, 1974 LEVEL TIE-DOWN 3,492,855 2/1970 Wylie 72/705 3,566,667 3/1971 Hagerty 72/705 [76] Inventor Blsket BOX 1901 3,590,623 7/1971 Hunnicutt 72/302 Iowa 50543 2,421,981 6/1947 Becker 72/705 [22] Filed: July 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham [21] PP N05 272,991 Assistant Examiner-M. J. Keenan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James H. Littlepage [52] US. Cl. 72/457, 72/705 51 1111. c1 B21d 1/14 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search. 72/705, 457; 254/78, 190, 198 A support for a pulley or plate is vertically ad ustable so that when a chain is anchored at one end to a floor [56] References Cited and led over the pulley or plate to a vehicle, the angle UNTED STATES PATENTS of the lead of the chain can be adjustably predeter- 3,122,194- 2/1964 Bronson et al 72/705 mmed' 3,141,493 7/1964 Textor 72/705 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LEVEL TIE-DOWN FIELD OF INVENTION Metal Deforming, Vehicle Body Or Frame Straightener.

PRIOR ART Becher U.S. Pat. No. 2,42l,98l, I-Iunnicutt U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,623.

OBJECTS In the repair of vehicle bodies and frames, it is usual to anchor or tie down one end or one side of the body or frame to the floor by means of an anchor chain so that a pull can be exerted on the other side or end. When the anchor chain leads upwardly from the floor at an angle to the direction of pull, the vehicle body or frame is subjected to a downward component of force at the point at which it is anchored. The object now is to provide a level tie-down so that the lead of the chain can be made level, or nearly level, no matter what may be the height of the point on the vehicle to which it is anchored.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the one form level tiedown in typical use;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the level tie-down shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the tie-down shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing another form of the tie-downyand FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the tie-down shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, the level tie-down 2 is shown in typical use in FIG. 1. A chain 4 secured at one end to a floor anchor 6 leads to an anchor point 8 on the frame of vehicle 10. In FIG. 1 the lead of the chain to the anchor point 8 is not quite level since it is desired, in this instance, to clear other parts of the vehicle which otherwise would be fouled by the chain, but the lead is considerably more nearly horizontal than if it came directly from the floor. The level tie-down consists of a main leg 12, a prop leg 14 pivoted as at 16 to the main leg, and a sheave 18 supported by a bracket 20 on the upper end of the main leg. A spread limiting chain 22 is anchored as at 24 to one of the legs, in this instance the prop leg, and is secured for lengthwise adjustability to the main leg by means of a slotted plate 26. Foot plates 28 and 30 are affixed on the lower end of the main leg 12 and prop leg 14. From FIG. 2 it will be readily apparent that the height of sheave 18 above the ground may be adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the spread limiting chain 22 so that the vertical angle at which chain 4 leads to the vehicle may be predetermined.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is similar in all respects to the one previously described. The elements indicated by prime numerals correspond to the elements previously detailed with whole numerals, the difference in the FIG. 4-FIG. 5 embodiment being that, instead of a sheave 18 on the upper end of the main leg, there is a slotted plate 32 so that the chain can be anchored to the upper end of the main leg. The anchor plate 32 guides the chain in generally the same manner as the sheave 18, but the engagement of the chain in the slotted plate 32 prevents the chain from running.

I claim:

1. A level tie-down for anchor chains comprising a first leg,

a second leg having one end pivoted to the first leg adjacent one end of the first leg, the other ends of said legs being spreadable away from one another flexible tension means connected between the other ends of said legs and being adjustable in length for adjustably limiting the spread of said legs,

and chain guide means on said one end of said first leg.

2. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 1, said chain guide means comprising a sheeve.

3. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 1, said chain guide means comprising a chain anchor.

4. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 3, said chain anchor comprising a slotted plate.

5. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 1, the flexible tension means for adjustably limiting the spread of of said legs comprising a chain affixed to one member, and anchor means for securing the chain to the other leg at a selected point along the length of the tension means. 

1. A level tie-down for anchor chains comprising A FIRST LEG, A SECOND LEG HAVING ONE END PIVOTED TO THE FIRST LEG ADJACENT ONE END OF THE FIRST LEG, THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID LEGS BEING SPREADABLE AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER FLEXIBLE TENSION MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID LEGS AND BEING ADJUSTABLE IN LENGTH FOR ADJUSTABLY LIMITING THE SPREAD OF SAID LEGS, AND CHAIN GUIDE MEANS ON SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST LEG.
 2. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 1, said chain guide means comprising a sheeve.
 3. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 1, said chain guide means comprising a chain anchor.
 4. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 3, said chain anchor comprising a slotted plate.
 5. A level tie-down as claimed in claim 1, the flexible tension means for adjustably limiting the spread of of said legs comprising a chain affixed to one member, and anchor means for securing the chain to the other leg at a selected point along the length of the tension means. 